This will be part one in a 4 part series on how to stabilize your video camera shots. If you are anything like me your hand held shots sometimes look like they were done by a hyperactive A.D.D kid hopped up on coffee and standing on one foot in a earthquake. I have 4 cheap solutions you can use to cure your shaky shots, so grab another coffee and let me share them with you.
The 4 solutions are as follows:
- Figrigs
- Steady cam
- Shoulder mounts and the new improved Shoulder mount
- Monopods and strings
Today we will cover the FigRig
These things are the cats ass. They allow you to place both hands on a frame to keep the camera still. As well with the top handle you can get slick close to the ground shots. Here are some pictures of my rig, a part list for it and after the pics you will find a handy dandy 3D model and a tutorial video on how to make this bad boy. Oh, and for those of you out there that want to have ‘Professional Looking equipment’ a can of flat black spray paint does an amazing job. I have been asked several times from other video professionals where they could buy one, not knowing it was hardware store parts and spray paint. Enjoy!
- 4 x 3/4″ PVC 45 degree elbows
- 2 x 3/4″ PVC 90 degree elbows
- 2 x 3/4″ PVC ‘T’s
- 1 x 3/4″ PVC cap
- 1 x 1/4-20 bolt
- 1 x 1/4-20 wing nut
- 2 x 3/4″ PVC 90 degree bends (you can find these in the electrical department at home depot)
- 1 x 3/4″ PVC tube 18″ long
- PVC cement
I have built a 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) model that you can play with and use of this FigRig: First go and get a free and very good 3Dmodeling software called Sketchup from our friends at google and as a special bonus here is a 3D model of the figrig that you can play with and modify.
Finally, you will find the tutorial video on building one of these rigs below. We did this for our podcast a while back at MechanicalMashup.tv : MechanicalMashup Episode 9 How to build a PVC figrig for your camera
If you have any comments, suggestions or better solutions feel free to leave them in the comments below.
“4 easy cheap ways to stabilize your video camera shots: Part 1″
“4 easy cheap ways to stabilize your video camera shots: Part 2″
“4 easy cheap ways to stabilize your video camera shots: Part 3″
“4 easy cheap ways to stabilize your video camera shots Part3.5″
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